Electronic Commerce System and Method for Detecting Fraud

1. An electronic commerce system having a server and an end user machine interacting through a network during an electronic commerce transaction, the server comprising: a software module configured to receive user-entered information via the network including an electronic purchase order for a product within the electronic commerce system; and a fraud detection mechanism active during electronic commerce transactions configured to determine a fraud ranking that indicates a likelihood that the electronic purchase order is attempted fraud based upon a user's real-time interaction with the server during a transaction to process the electronic purchase order selected from a group consisting of: (i) an attempt to change information in the electronic purchase order detected by a comparison of a snapshot of information about the electronic purchase order taken after the purchase order has been submitted for processing by the system, and (ii) a user's path of progression through web pages associated with submitting the electronic purchase order.

2. The electronic commerce system of claim 1 wherein the fraud detection mechanism includes a software module configured to also determine the fraud ranking based upon a number of times user-entered information was included in an electronic purchase order that was declined.

3. The electronic commerce system of claim 1 wherein the fraud detection mechanism includes a software module configured to also determine the fraud ranking based upon a number of times user-entered information was included in an electronic purchase order that failed to obtain credit card authorization.

4. The electronic commerce system of claim 1 wherein the fraud detection mechanism includes a software module configured to also determine the fraud ranking based upon comparing a number of disparate pieces of information related to user-entered information with particular criteria.

5. The electronic commerce system of claim 1 wherein the fraud detection mechanism includes a software module configured to compare the fraud ranking against a particular fraud scale.

6. The electronic commerce system of claim 1 wherein the fraud detection mechanism includes a software module configured to (i) save snapshots of information in the electronic purchase order at first and second times after the electronic purchase order has been submitted and (ii) compare the snapshot of information in the electronic purchase order saved at the first time with the snapshot of information in the electronic purchase order saved at the second time.

7. The electronic commerce system of claim 1 wherein the fraud detection mechanism includes a software module configured to also determine the fraud ranking based upon an amount of each of a number of electronic purchase orders requested within a particular time frame associated with a particular user.

8. The electronic commerce system of claim 1 wherein the fraud detection mechanism includes a software module configured to also determine the fraud ranking based upon a number of electronic purchase orders requested within a particular time frame associated with a particular user.

9. The electronic commerce system of claim 1 further comprising a fraud prevention mechanism that declines an electronic purchase order based on the fraud ranking determined by the fraud detection mechanism.

10. A method performed by an electronic commerce system having a server and an end user machine interacting through a network during an electronic commerce transaction, the method comprising steps of: receiving user-entered information via the network including an electronic purchase order for a product within the electronic commerce system; and determining a fraud ranking that indicates a likelihood that the electronic purchase order is attempted fraud based upon a user's real-time interaction with the electronic commerce system during a transaction to process the electronic purchase order selected from a group consisting of: (i) an attempt to change information in the electronic purchase order detected by a comparison of a snapshot of information about the electronic purchase order taken after the purchase order has been submitted for processing by the system, and (ii) a user's path of progression through web pages associated with submitting the electronic purchase order.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the determining step further comprises determining the fraud ranking based upon a number of times the user-entered information was included in an electronic purchase order that was declined.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the determining step further comprises determining the fraud ranking based upon a number of times the user-entered information was included in an electronic purchase order that failed to obtain credit card authorization.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the determining step further comprises determining the fraud ranking based upon comparing a number of disparate pieces of information related to the user-entered information with particular criteria.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising a step of comparing the fraud ranking against a particular fraud scale.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising steps of: saving snapshots of information in the electronic purchase order at first and second times after the electronic purchase order has been submitted; and comparing the snapshot of information in the electronic purchase order saved at the first time with the snapshot of information in the electronic purchase order saved at the second time.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the determining step further comprises determining the fraud ranking based upon an amount of each of a number of electronic purchase orders requested within a particular time frame associated with a particular user.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein the determining step further comprises determining the fraud ranking based upon a number of electronic purchase orders requested within a particular time frame associated with a particular user.

18. The method of claim 10 further comprising a step of preventing fraud by declining an electronic purchase order based on the fraud ranking determined by the determining step.

19. An article of manufacture including instructions stored on a medium for controlling an electronic commerce system having a server and an end user machine interacting through a network during an electronic commerce transaction, the medium comprising software modules configured to control the electronic commerce system to perform the steps of claim 10 .

20. An article of manufacture including instructions stored on a medium for controlling an electronic commerce system having a server and an end user machine interacting through a network during an electronic commerce transaction, the medium comprising: a software module configured to receive user-entered information via the network including an electronic purchase order for a product within the electronic commerce system; and a fraud detection software module configured to be active during electronic commerce transactions and further configured to determine a fraud ranking that indicates a likelihood that the electronic purchase order is attempted fraud based upon a user's real-time interaction with the electronic commerce system during a transaction to process the electronic purchase order selected from a group consisting of: (i) an attempt to change information in the electronic purchase order detected by a comparison of a snapshot of information about the electronic purchase order taken after the purchase order has been submitted for processing by the system, and (ii) a user's path of progression through web pages associated with submitting the electronic purchase order.